Couple spearhead mission project for Navahos in Arizona

Thursday

Dec 13, 2012 at 12:01 AM

We always hear about people doing exceptional things all over the world during the Christmas season: stars giving millions to a well-known charities and the wealthy building schools and houses in needy countries that everyone is working to help. But one couple who attends Lexington Community Church — one I proudly call home — is doing their part to spread the Christmas spirit right here, a little closer to home.

BY CHLOE GALLOWAYTeen Correspondent

We always hear about people doing exceptional things all over the world during the Christmas season: stars giving millions to a well-known charities and the wealthy building schools and houses in needy countries that everyone is working to help. But one couple who attends Lexington Community Church — one I proudly call home — is doing their part to spread the Christmas spirit right here, a little closer to home.Seven years ago, Richard and Eve Greene gave LCC the chance to see God in action, right here in Lexington. One day while walking around Walmart in June, Eve Greene saw stuffed lions that she says "just made you want to cuddle with them." She started filling the buggy with her husband's questions coming just as quickly as the toys.She didn't know why she wanted the toys then, but a few months later at around 3 in the morning God gave her the answer: Give CHRIST MAS, which has now evolved to Give CHRIST MAS 365. The programs are named because the Greenes believe you should give more Christ, Mas meaning more and well, Christ meaning Christ. This all leads me to what I hope will make your holidays bright, "Jesus in a box!"I asked Eve Greene why she and her husband felt the need to do this project along with helping the children in Lexington. The answer, she told me, was simple, "God. He gave me this idea while we were talking with Reynard Faber about Give CHRIST MAS. Reynard told us that not his own tribe but the Navaho tribe in Arizona needed help, and badly. We set into action then of praying for what God wanted us to do."LCC has been working with Faber, the great-grandson of Geronimo. Through him we have been able to reach the Apache Navaho tribe in Arizona. We have touched the hearts of many, and they have touched ours through the work of the Greene family.This holiday season, Eve and Richard Greene have given the true meaning of Christmas. With encouragement and support from many, Richard Greene and Phillip Ball are headed to Arizona with 500 shoeboxes to give the Navaho children a Christmas and 400 extra toys for other ministries.I know that honestly, I would brag about how many people I have helped, but Eve Greene didn't. Every chance she got it seemed she mentioned how even though time and space were both limited, LCC stepped up to the plate and helped provide for the families. The support from LCC and the community was abundant and appreciated every time. Not only did LCC help in wrapping gifts, testing toys —Floam to be exact — but the giving spirit Eve said is almost, well, unnatural. Alongside LCC, God, the community and many others, Toys for Tots coordinator Jerry Foy also helped.I hope that by the simple deeds of asking you will set out to help someone this Christmas season. If you feel like you have been called or want to help make any of the projects mentioned, you can contact Eve and Richard Greene at their email, givechristmas365@yahoo.com. As an extra bit of information, Eve Greene mentioned that she would love to have a large space, if anyone has a building or know of one that could perhaps be donated to ensure that early donations have a place to wait. This would be the time not only to make a dream come true but help ensure people will be taken care of for many Christmases to come. If you can or know someone who can make this happen, email Eve Greene or call the Lexington Community Church Office at 357-3360.